The funding announced today will help take broadband to the premises not covered by the existing scheme.

Investment matching

Matching the investment will allow the Northern Ireland Executive to provide everyone with access to at least 2 Mbps broadband, and it is the Executive who will decide how to use this money.

Mr Hunt also announced the Government would look at holding a pilot in Northern Ireland to explore ways of taking superfast broadband to all homes and businesses.

He said: “Broadband is essential for economic growth and increasingly for our everyday lives. Our investment will help provide everyone with decent broadband access and ensure no-one is left behind in the digital age.”

The private sector on its own will take superfast broadband to around two-thirds of UK households and businesses. Public money is being used to help take broadband to the remaining one third by making it viable for business to invest.